Automatic train-order crane.



D. A. POOL. AUTOMATIC TRAIN ORDER CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. 191i.

Patented June 1, 1915.

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5l/vibre e o D. A. POOL. AUTOMATIC TRAIN ORDER CRANE.

l I APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3. 1914. M143 4l l Patented Julie 1, 1915.

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D. A. POOL. AUTOMATIC TRAIN ORDER CRANE. APPLICATION FILED ocT.3. I9I4.

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i au ne no'a Patented J une 1, 1915.,

`DAVID A. POOL, OF MACEO, KENTUCKY.

.an'roiue'rrcA TRAIN-ORDER CRANE.

Lian/iii.

T all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID citizen ofthe United States, residing at Maceo, in the countyl of Daviess and State 5, of Kentucky,

ful Automatic Train-Order Crane; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description ofthe invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art 1o to which it appertains to make and use the same. i

This invention relates to the art of delivering devices,-and particularly tov an improved automatic train order crane.

to provide means whereby as a train order loop with the order attached is detached, the" l the crane to automatically return to its normal position, by virtue of the resiliency of a spring. Said crane is designed to be manuallv thrown into a position in close proximity to the train, when it is desired to dispose or arrange an/order, so as to be taken by the engineer in the cab. Y

The present method of delivering train despatches and other orders is accomplished by the station keeper or otheemployee of the road standing close to the fast moving train and holding a train order loop including. an order or despatch in a position so as to be grasped by the engineer. I

The present invention particularly prevents the station keeper from being placed in such a ydangerous position, at the same time insures the order loop being firmly held i in close position to the fast moving train.

In practical fields the details of construction may be subjected to alterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, hereinafter set forth shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings :--Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing the movable part of the c'ranetin its normal position. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, illustrating train or- Specification of Letters Patent.

A. P001., a.

have invented a new and use-` As an object of the invention it is the aim 1 Patented aua@ i, asia.

Application led October 3, 1914. Serial No. 864,752.

der loop carrying /reel in elevation, and showing the crane adjusted closerto the cab of the engine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing parts in elevation.V Fig. 4 is a plan view of the loop carrying r eel vshowing the movable crane in section, illustrating the structure of the spring tensioned cylinder in the tubular crane.' Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the order carrying loops, and a portion of the reel, showing the supporting arm for the loop to prevent the reel from turning through the action of the spring of said cylinder. Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, showing a gravity actuated cylinder for the reel, so that three successive train orders or despatches may be delivered to respective trains, before the gravity member actuates the latch, in order that the crane may return togits normal position, otherwise the crane Y is constructed similar to that shown in Fig.

1. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the tubular crane showing the gravity actuated cylinder.

Referring more especially to the drawings 1 designatesa base member, and rising upwdly therefrom is a column or standard 2.

This column or standard may be hollow or solid, just as required, and its upper portion is' provided with an V enlargement 3.

Extending laterally from opposite sides of the enlargement are tubular ears 4.?

Telescoping horizontally through the tubular ears are the side portions 5 of a slide 6, which in plan view is U-shaped.

The sides 5 of the U-shapedv slides extend upwardly as shown at 7 and terminate at horizontally disposed portions 8 which are suitably anchored in the laterally extending tubular ears 9 of the base l() of the tubularcrane 11./

An operating lever 12 is pivoted at 13 to the base 1 as shown.

A bar 1-1 has its lower angular end secured at 15 in any suitable manner in the lower. portion'of the column or standard 2. The bar 14 merges into a U-shaped portion 16. That is, this portion 16 is U-shaped in side elevation, and it straddles the slide 6, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. The up. per portion 17 of 16 overlies the enlargement 3 of the collar or standard 2, and has a bearing plate 18 secured thereto.

The operating lever l2 has a handle end 19, while its lower U-shaped or forked portion 20 extends through the slide 6 and straddles the U-shaped loop 16.

A link 2l is pivoted to the upper portion of the U-shaped` part 20 of said lever upon each side.` Each link 21 has a forked end 22, designed to engage or arch the forward portion of the slide, that is, the transverse part 23.

A link 24 has a pivotal connection 25 ad] acent the base of the handle end of the lever l2, .which link is in turn pivoted at 26 to a lug 27 of the base of the tubular crane.

leaf spring 28 secured at 29 to the bar 14 is provided, and is designed to bear against the operating lever 12, so as to hold the lever and the tubular crane in their no rmal positions as shown in Fig. 1. It w1ll be observed that by throwing the'lever 12 in the direction of the arrow a, the tubular crane will be moved in a similar direction, owing to the link 24 pushing against the base of the crane, in which case the slide 6 will likewise be moved, and when the tubular crane is thus operated, the hook member 30 will engage the latch 31, which is pivoted at 32 in the bearing member 18, thereby holding the tubular crane in position against the action of the leaf spring 28. When the latch member 31 is disconnected from the hook 30, the lever 12 will be automatically thrown to its normal position, and owing to the provision of said links, 21 pushing against the Ufshaped slide 6, the tubular crane will be correspondingly returned toits normal position. A key 34 through openings of the upper and lower parts of the U-shaped portion 16 of the bar 14 so as to prevent the slide 6 from being reciprocated, there being a suitable padlock or other arrangement or device 35 connected to the lower end of the key so as to prevent its removal. A U-shaped loop oreye 36 is carried by the latch 31.

vSurrounding the tubular crane is a split collar 37 held in place by the bolt 38,which passes through the ears 39 of said collar. Secured between the ears 39 of the collar by said bolt 38 is an arm 40A having a curved extension 41, the upper portion of which terminates in a T-shaped part 42. A shaft 43 is mounted inbearings of the tubular crane and on one end of the shaft a reel 44 is journaled to rotate with the shaft. Also on the shaft but located within the tubular crane is a drum or cylinder 45, which is un der tension of the spring 46, which is coiled about the shaft, and so connected to the provided with drum and the interior wall of the crane, as

projections 47, there being adjoining cam surfaces 48, any one of which is designed to engage the arm 49 of the angular lever 50, which is pivoted at 51. The arm 52 of the angular lever h50 eixtends is passed' through the eye or loop 36. When' the tubular crane is in a position out of registration or alinement with the column or standard 2 or in close position to the train, and oneof the cam surfaces in contact with the arm 49 of said lever 50, andan order or despatch loop 53 is removed from the reel 44, the action of the spring 46 will cause the drum to rotate in the direction of the arrow the cam surface and the projection' 47 acting to rock the lever 50, causing the arm 52 to raise the latch 31, thereby releasin the hook 30, and through the action ofg the spring 28, the operating lever 12 and the tubular crane 11 will be automatically returned to normal position.

he reel 44 is provided with U-shaped radial spokes 55, that is, they are U-shapedl f in plan View, and upon ins 56 of said spokes T-shaped dogsI 5 are pivoted. These dogs are held in contact with the Shanks 58 of the order loops 53 by the springs 59. The Shanks 58 of the order loops are received in sockets 60 of said reel, while the bodies 61 of the shank rest upon the T-shaped end 42 of the curved portion 41 of the arm 40, thereby holding theA reel against rotation in the direction of thel arrow 5 and against the action of the spring 46. owever, just so soon as an order loop together with itsorder or despatch 63 is removed by the engineer in the cab or locomotive, said reel makes aY third revolution through the action of the spring 46, thereby actuating the angular lever 50, which in turn releases the latch 31, thereby allowing the crane to return to its normal position. It may be that the next train requires no despatches or orders, therefore, for this reason the crane is returned to its normal position, thereby avoiding the possibility of the neXt train receiving a despatch, which is not intended for the crew of the train. However, the third train should receiveits ordersv or despatches, in which case the station keeper or other employee operates the lever 12, throwing the crane in position, so neXt order loop may be detached.-

The upper end of the tubular crane is provided with a suitable top or cover 66, which carries an angular bracket 67, having a hook, 68, for the support of/the usual signal lantern or the like 69, thereby not only notifying the engineer that a despatch or order is intended forhis crew, but also enabling him to plainly see that the order loop is in position ready to be removed or snatched. The angular bracket 67 is provided with a downwardly extending angular arm 70, which may supporta lantern or the like.

It may keeper may desire to deliver orders or despatches either to a single train, that is, one to the engineer, one to the condutor, and one to the trainman orbrakethree successive that the successive orders or despatches, one to each of three diierent trains. To accomplish the delivery of three successive despatches or orders the cylinder 45 is actuated by a gravity member 72 having a. cable passing about said cylinder, instead of the employment of the spring 46'. This gravity member or Weight 72 is arranged at a sufficient height above the arm 74 of the latch 3l as shown in Fig. 6 so as to contact with said arm 7 4 after the three successive orders or despatches have been removed. When the Weight or gravity member contacts with the arm of said latch the hook 30 is released, thereby allowing the lever l2 and the tubular crane to resume their normal positions.

rlChe invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is l. In a despatch delivering apparatus, a crane, a revoluble spring tensioned reel having radially extending spokes and provided with detachable despatch holding loops, a spring tensioned T-shaped dog `carried by each spoke to clamp the shank of the loop in position on the spoke.

' 2. In a despatch delivering apparatus, a

' crane, a revoluble spring tensioned reel hav'- ing radially extending spokes and provided with detachable despatch holding loops, a spring tensioned ishaped dog carried by each spoke to clamp the shank of the loop in position on the spoke, means to support the shank of the loop to hold the reel against rotation by the spring tensioned means.

3. In a despatch delivering apparatus, a crane, a revoluble spring tensioned reel having radially extendingl spokes and provided with detachable despatch holding loops, a spring tensioned 'shaped dog carried by each spoke to clamp the shank of the loop in position on the spoke, means for removing the crane to a lateral position closer to a train, a device for holding the crane in such position, saidr spring tensioned'means of the reel mechanism including means having connections to actuate said device to release the crane, 'and means for returning the crane lto its normal position.

U-shaped portion` a` crane including a mechanism for holding a plurality of despatch holding loops, and supported upon the slide, connections between the crane, and

`the slide, including a spring tensioned operating lever in said connections, for moving the crane and the slide laterally, a device on the lever to be engaged by said latch to hold the crane and the lever in an adjusted position, said mechanism of the crane including means having connections to actuate the latch to release the lever, as a despatch holding loop isl detached.

5. In a despatch delivering apparatus, a supporting column having guides thereon, a slide mounted in the guides, a bar connected to the column having a loop portion receiving said slide, a latch on the loop portion,

a. crane including a mechanism for holding a plurality of despatch holding loops and mounted upon the slide, connections between the crane and the slide, an oscillatory member in the connection for moving the crane and the slide laterally, said oscillatory member having means to be engaged by said latch to hold the crane in an adjusted position, and means actuated by said mechanism to operate the latch to release said oscillatory member, as a despatch holding loop is detached.`

6. In a despatch delivering apparatus, a supporting column having guides, a slide mountedv in the guides, a crane including a mechanism for holding a plurality olf-despatch holding loops and mounted upon the slide, connections between the crane and the slide including a spring tensioned oscillatory member for moving the crane and the slide laterally, a device on said member, means to automatically engage said device to hold the crane and the slide in a lateral position against the spring tensioning means of said member, and means actuated byA said mechanism for operating the holding means of said device to release the oscillatory member, as a despatch holding loop is detached.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name tothis specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. l

DAVID A. POOL. 

